---
title: "What the sources say about the Cockatiel | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "48 claims from the Cockatiel profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
image: "https://animaltracks.wiki/images/animals/cockatiel-1.webp"
canonical: "https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/cockatiel/sources/"
---

# What the sources say about the Cockatiel (*Nymphicus hollandicus*)

> 48 claims from the Cockatiel profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Cockatiel](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/cockatiel/)

## Nymphicus hollandicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22684828A132056250.

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2018-2.rlts.t22684828a132056250.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Least Concern | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). (note: stats.conservationStatus) |
| The IUCN Red List, in its 2018 edition, rates the species Least Concern. | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). (note: 2018 is the Red List edition named in the cited record's title (2018-2), not necessarily the assessment date) |

## Seki (2021). Cockatiels sing human music in synchrony with a playback of the melody. PLOS ONE.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256613

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A small crested parrot from Australia's open country that can sing a human melody in near-perfect sync. | This means cockatiels have a remarkable ability for flexible vocal control similar to what is seen in human singing. (note: tagline; small and open country from biab claims; sync claim below) |
| Sings along with a human melody, nearly perfectly in unison | two out of these three birds spontaneously joined in singing during an ongoing melody, so that the singing by the bird and the whistling by the human were nearly perfectly synchronous (note: stats.superpower) |
| Singing in unison is several singers producing one acoustic pattern in synchrony | sing in unison ( i . e ., multiple individuals singing a single acoustic pattern in synchrony |
| studies showing it in non-human animals are quite rare | studies demonstrating singing in unison or, monophony (as opposed to simply singing at the same time) by non-human animals are quite rare |
| Cockatiels managed it in a study published in 2021. | Two out of these three birds spontaneously joined in singing during an ongoing melody (note: two of three birds; publication year from the reference) |
| Two of them then joined in while the whistling was already running, and bird and human were nearly perfectly synchronous. | two out of these three birds spontaneously joined in singing during an ongoing melody, so that the singing by the bird and the whistling by the human were nearly perfectly synchronous |
| When a recording of the melody was played after a bird had started singing, the birds changed the length of the pause in their own song, and the later the playback came, the longer the delay. | the birds kept singing after the playback sounds were presented. The birds changed the pause duration of their own song ... The duration of Y was longer when X was longer |
| Two cockatiels joined a human whistler mid-melody and sang nearly perfectly in sync. | two out of these three birds spontaneously joined in singing during an ongoing melody, so that the singing by the bird and the whistling by the human were nearly perfectly synchronous |
| Three hand-raised birds learned a whistled melody | Three hand-raised cockatiels were exposed to a musical melody of human whistling produced by an experimenter. All the birds learned to sing the melody. |
| melody made of two halves of 11 notes each, separated by a long pause | the first half (consisting of 11 notes) and the second half (consisting of 11 notes) separated by a long pause |
| The trick is timing. | These results indicate that the birds actively adjusted their vocal timing to the playback sound. |
| a whistled melody is what three hand-raised cockatiels learned in one study | Three hand-raised cockatiels were exposed to a musical melody of human whistling produced by an experimenter. All the birds learned to sing the melody. (note: vibe.reason) |
| Two of them then joined in while a human was already whistling it, and bird and human were nearly perfectly synchronous | two out of these three birds spontaneously joined in singing during an ongoing melody, so that the singing by the bird and the whistling by the human were nearly perfectly synchronous (note: vibe.reason) |

## Nymphicus hollandicus (cockatiel). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Nymphicus_hollandicus/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Half of that length is a long, pointed tail. | This tapered tail is very long (ca. 15 cm), making up half of their length. |
| Their colouring lets aerial predators overlook them easily, especially in shady areas. | Their colorations allows them to be easily overlooked by aerial predators, especially in shady areas. (note: 'lets' paraphrases 'allows them to be') |
| Held straight up, the crest shows a startled or alert bird. | The crest is held vertically erect when the bird is startled or is alert. |
| At about 45 degrees, the bird is content. | When content, it is generally held at roughly a 45-degree angle to the head. |
| Flat against the head shows an agitated one | When agitated or threatened, the crest is held flat against the head. |
| in flight it also lies flat, which reduces wind drag | During flight, the crest is also laid flat against the skull, reducing wind drag. |
| With no strong defences, a cockatiel in danger takes off. | With no prevalent natural defense mechanisms, cockatiels always choose flight when a threat is perceived |
| Flocks put many eyes on watch for predators | stay in large flocks, where many eyes can look for predators |
| Seeds are the main course. | their sharp curved beaks are adapted to maximize efficiency in shucking and consuming seeds, their food of choice |
| they use the tongue to rotate a seed while the upper beak strips off the shell | Cockatiels use their tongues to rotate seeds as they use their upper beak to remove shells |
| Drinking is a quick job: one or two sips, then necks stretch up to swallow and survey the surroundings. | they drink rapidly, usually only taking one to two sips of water, then extending their necks upwards to swallow and survey their surroundings |
| They also use metabolic water and can go long stretches without a drink. | Cockatiels utilize metabolic water production, and can go for long amounts of time without drinking. |
| about half that length is tail | This tapered tail is very long (ca. 15 cm), making up half of their length. |
| Not well. Animal Diversity Web says they cannot accurately imitate the human voice, but they can mimic melodies and sing | cockatiels are unlike some larger species of parrots in that they cannot accurately imitate the human voice, but have the ability to mimic melodies and can sing |
| mostly Australian birds of prey | Australian birds of prey are the primary predators of cockatiels |
| The crest works as a mood ring. | the angle at which the crest is held is indicative of a bird’s mood |
| dangerLevel: Medium | Cockatiels can also in extreme circumstances deliver a powerful bite from their sharp beaks and well-developed jaw muscles, which can easily pierce the skin. (note: stats.dangerLevel, can injure but rarely seriously (#1158)) |

## Cockatiel. Birds in Backyards, BirdLife Australia.

https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Nymphicus-hollandicus

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Open country, usually near water, across mainland Australia and common in the arid inland | The Cockatiel is widespread throughout mainland Australia ... in most types of open country, usually near water. It is common throughout its range, especially in the north and the more arid inland areas. (note: stats.habitat) |
| Grass seeds, nuts, berries and grain | Cockatiels feed on a variety of grass seeds, nuts, berries and grain. (note: stats.diet) |
| An adult is 30 to 33 cm long, with an average of 32 cm, and weighs about 90 g. | Minimum Size: 30cm Maximum Size: 33cm Average size: 32cm Average weight: 90g |
| The plumage is mostly grey with a white wing patch, orange cheeks and a pointed crest. | Its plumage is mostly grey, paler below, with a white wing patch, orange cheeks and a distinctive pointed crest. |
| Males have a bright yellow face | The male can be identified by its bright yellow forehead, face and crest. |
| Cockatiels are widespread across mainland Australia and uncommon in Tasmania. | The Cockatiel is widespread throughout mainland Australia, but is uncommon in Tasmania |
| They live in pairs or small flocks in open country, usually near water, and are common in the arid inland. | The Cockatiel is seen in pairs or small flocks, in most types of open country, usually near water. It is common throughout its range, especially in the north and the more arid inland areas. |
| They are strongly nomadic, moving around in response to food and water. | the Cockatiel is strongly nomadic, moving around in response to the availability of food and water |
| They eat grass seeds, nuts, berries and grain | Cockatiels feed on a variety of grass seeds, nuts, berries and grain. |
| Birds in Backyards puts adults at 30 to 33 cm long with an average weight of 90 g, and about half that length is tail. | Minimum Size: 30cm Maximum Size: 33cm Average size: 32cm Average weight: 90g |
| They follow food and water. Birds in Backyards calls them strongly nomadic across their range | Throughout its range, the Cockatiel is strongly nomadic, moving around in response to the availability of food and water. |
| they may breed at any time in response to suitable periods of rain, especially in the more arid regions | Cockatiels may breed at any time, in response to suitable periods of rain, especially in the more arid regions. |
| It is a small parrot. | It is small in size (note: faq 1) |
| weightKg: 0.09 | Average weight: 90g (note: battleStats.weightKg, typical adult (#1117)) |

## AnAge entry for Nymphicus hollandicus. AnAge, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Nymphicus_hollandicus

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| The maximum recorded life is 35 years, from one bird in captivity. | Maximum longevity 35 years (captivity) ... One specimen lived for 35 years in captivity |
| The record is 35 years, and it belongs to a single captive bird: AnAge gives that as the species' maximum longevity. | Maximum longevity 35 years (captivity) ... One specimen lived for 35 years in captivity (note: 'a single captive bird' paraphrases 'One specimen lived for 35 years in captivity') |